Manly United’s remarkable late-season resurgence shows no signs of slowing down, with a 3-1 victory over Marconi Stallions extending the club’s unbeaten run to nine matches and lifting the Northern Beaches outfit into the NPL NSW Top Six.
With just three rounds remaining, the race for finals football is well and truly alive. While plenty still needs to fall Manly’s way, the club has given itself every chance after one of the competition’s most impressive turnarounds.
The breakthrough came midway through the first half when exciting young forward Cai Evans scored his debut First Grade goal in style. Latching onto a superb long ball from Aaron O’Driscoll, the 18-year-old calmly finished beyond the advancing goalkeeper to hand Manly a deserved lead.
Just minutes later, Evans pushed a perfectly weighted pass to Ben Koop, who made no mistake from close range to double the advantage and send Cromer Park into full voice.
Marconi responded strongly after the break, pulling a goal back and applying sustained pressure, but Manly’s defence stood tall. Mackenzie Syron produced another outstanding save to preserve the lead before the hosts regained control.
The proverbial cherry came with 10 minutes remaining, when Aaron O’Driscoll was brought down inside the penalty area. Steph De Robillard stepped up confidently, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to seal a deserved 3-1 victory.
While Evans’ first senior goal will rightly grab the headlines, the result was built on another committed team performance. From Syron’s crucial interventions at one end to Manly’s clinical finishing at the other, every player played their part in another memorable fixture at Cromer Park. It was a point echoed by coach Vlado, who said about the game and the unbeaten run: “We’ve worked incredibly hard, and the players deserve enormous credit for the way they’ve responded and the character they’ve shown.”
Attention now turns to NWS Spirit FC, who visit Cromer Park this Saturday for Manly’s final home match of the season. With the unbeaten run now stretching to nine matches and the top four still within touching distance, another huge game looms as the boys look to keep their remarkable run alive and make it ten from ten.
This Saturday is your last chance to see our Senior Men in action at Cromer Park this season. Come along, get behind your local team and be part of the matchday atmosphere as the boys look to finish their home campaign on a high. Whether you’re cheering from the grandstand or enjoying the best seat in the house on The Far Post Deck, we’d love to see a sea of blue and red!
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Image credit: Facet Photography
